Korean Job Discussion Forums

[elliemk]

I lived in Bangojin (spelling now)? It's out by the sea and the air is much less polluted by downtown, but it's only 30 minutes away (home of Hyundai Heavy Industries - shipbuilding). There is a lively expat community there, due to all the foreign engineers, etc., that Hyundai hires. The foreigner's compound is open at lunch with English and American food. There's also a new place for fish and chips, I understand. Though the beach isn't really a swimming beach (I don't think), the park by the water is very nice - raw fish, etc. available.
I'm moving back to Ulsan, but this time to Samsandong. It's downtown where a lot of the shopping is, I understand.
I found the natives to be very friendly, but then, I was also friendly and always greeted them in Korea and smiled broadly. Amazing what a smile will do. The lady at the little market gave me a big hug when I left.
I really think that life is what you make it. All the air in big cities in Korea is polluted. Last time I was there, all the water was polluted too. I just ordered bottled water and never had ice in my drinks except when I visited an American restaurant.
I'm leaving the states tomorrow for Korea. Very much looking forward to coming back to my 'second' home (in my heart and soul). And this time, I plan to learn the language much more than I did the last time!

Ellie

[ruffie]

If you want to see this everyday, indeed, come to Ulsan!
Right next to a park, and there are even larger mountains of trash that sit, ferment and build up for months. There are at least five such heaps within walking distance of my apt. As I said before, I've lived in other places in Korea and I have never, ever, seen the amount of trash and litter as I have seen in Ulsan, or the complete apathy of people toward what is essentially filth up to their ears. Koreans may be litterbugs, but Ulsanites do it with gusto. It is inescapable, as are the rats and stray cats. This coupled with a sky that is usually somewhere between gas and a solid, is depressing to say the least.

Desperation, if you live in MooGeodong, you may recognize it.




As for the air quality, the culprit is SK Corporation. The refinery is the second largest on the planet, and itself is about the size of a small city. This is what you will be breathing on a daily basis. If there is a breeze, perhaps it will blow it away from your neighborhood, or blow it right your way. If there is no wind at all, well, those are the worst days.

[desperation]

[ulsanchris]

ULsan is much better than when i got here 5 or 6 years back. air is cleaner to. Ulsan isn't that great of a place. but it's not that bad either. There are some beaches nearby and you aren't that far from busan.

[meangradin]

Come on, you make it sound like all of Ulsan looks like that. You do know that MuGeo Dong is a "uni room" district; a university district inhabited by students, english teachers and "respite" rooms where married men go to.... In short, it is not a family area. Indeed, the small family area looks nothing like those pictures. What you are doing is the equivalent of showing pictures of the east end of Vancouver and arguing that ALL of Vancouver looks like that. Can you say "logical fallacy?"

Can you honestly say that Samsan Dong, Seongnam Dong, Taewha Dong, Jeonsang Dong, etc look like that? Of course not. And why don't you show pictures of Munsu Park, which is located 2 minutes from that picture? And for that matter, you do know that the SK plant (and most of the industrial area) is located far out of town.

Hey, if you don't like Ulsan then fair enough, but why paint an absurd picture that is for the most part baseless. Maybe you think it is funny, but it does have an effect on the way the city is perceived, which effects our prospects in recruiting new teachers.

Again, where do you live and work? It really sounds like you are in a bad place in your life. PM me if you need to get together with a foreigner and we can grab a beer.

I should mention for the record that I have a "real" life here: I have a family, have many friends, make great money, own an apartment, (at the base of Munsu mountain - so the air and the surroundings are very clean) So of course this effects how I feel about the city. But I did love my life in Ulsan when I was single, hence the reason I stayed

[ruffie]

[meangradin]

Ruffie, let me apoligize if I insulted you. I only meant that I live a more permanent existence in Ulsan which certainly affects my views about the city, whereas IMHO most foreign teachers live a kind of transient existence, never really putting down roots in Korea; therefore they may not like Ulsan, or Korea for that matter. It was not meant as a criticism of you or anyone who disagrees with me.

And just to be clear, I do not recruit as a job, but I do help some of my Korean friends who own hagwans try and find teachers from time to time. So I have absolutely no vested interest in defending Ulsan's honor . In fact, the less teachers here, the better for me.

I certainly don't think of Ulsan as a prelapsarian paradise, but I do think it is a good city to live in: certainly no worse than any other big Korean city. IMO, today was an absolutely beautiful and clear day. I did go for a run around Munsu today and I don't feel any bit the worse for it, but that's me.

Anyway, all the best, and I mean it about the beer.